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Just Say No
Him: Honey, would
you mind bringing this [pile of white-collar work shirts
that I could just as easily bring myself] to the dry
cleaner?
You: Sure, no problem.
Kid:
Mom, I need an original dish for International Cultural
Cuisine Month tomorrow. Can you make Grandma's famous
lasagna?
You: Sure, no problem.
Coworker: I need to take a mental health day tomorrow
[because I'm in desperate need of a mani-pedi]. Can you
cover for me at the weekly?
You (slowly starting to pull out your hair): Sure, no
problem.
Sound
familiar? As Supermom, it's all too easy to "yes" yourself
to death. Today, try the following: Erase "yes" from your
vocabulary. You don't need to supply any excuses; the other
moms will understand. When asked to do something that could
potentially take away from collecting "me" time, simply
smile sweetly and say "I'm afraid not." Depending on who's
doing the asking, you can always follow up with some of the
following addendums for extra effectiveness, like "Go ask
your father" or "Why don't you try [so 'busy' doing her
online
shopping, banking and personal emailing from the office]
Kathy?"
Then,
take the hour or so (hopefully more) you saved by saying no
and take to the bath or other locale of choice for uber-relaxation.
Be sure to soak up every second. Got it? (It's okay to say
yes.)
Know
someone who's a sucker for saying yes? Forward this Page.
Mail A Friend
Shutter Babe
Any mom
of a grade-schooler knows the painstaking thought process
that goes into the yearly fall event known as school picture
day. Laser or library backdrop? Wallet-sized for aunts and
uncles or just grandparents? The lucky one, of course, is
your charming child, who gets to show off his adorable mug
in a fresh-faced photo year after year.
Wedding aside, when was the last time you got your
photo taken by a pro? Of course, it goes without saying that
every mom looks glowing and beautiful in those
holding-the-newborn pics, but let's be honest -- it kinda
all goes downhill from there. And when you're 80 and a
grandma of six, wouldn't it be nice to look back on a
stunning shot of you at [insert current age here] and think,
Wow! I was a hot mom!
According to The Hot Mom's Handbook, a pro photo
session can boost self-esteem and release your inner
goddess. If you're feeling camera shy, round up a bunch of
girlfriends to do it with you and mix group and solo shots.
They'll make a great gift for your darling husband -- or, if
you're a solo mom and looking -- the perfect incentive to
finally post your pic on an online dating site. Check out
community Websites, such as Craigslist, or local newspapers,
such as PennySaver, to find a photographer near you. Say
cheese!
Know
someone who loves to work it for the camera? Forward this
page.
Mail A Friend
Make New
Friends...
But keep
the old. You know the saying, your mom knows the saying and
her mom knows the saying. Yet as we get older -- and our
kids' lives start taking center stage while ours get nudged
curtain-side -- that "keeping the old" concept gets harder
and harder to manage. So we have a fab idea for getting back
in touch with an oldie-but-goodie gal pal -- right now.
Whether it's a college mate you haven't seen since you
tossed off your caps together at graduation, your fave
cube-mate (read: partner in gossip) from your first job or
even a current friend whom you constantly pledge to do lunch
with, staying connected really is about little doses of
effort.
Today,
think about someone you owe a phone call and forward this
email. It'll let her know you're thinking about her and how
much you miss your closeness of yesteryear -- and that even
though your former free time is now booked with the
latest arts-and-crafts extravaganza or helping research
yet another book report (yes, your child averages more
homework per night in fourth grade than you did as a college
freshman) -- you promise you'll make time for that
much-needed catch-up call ASAP.
The
new (virtual) greeting card warm-and-fuzzy -- it's as easy
as clicking that Forward icon.
Phone
tag out of control? Forward this to a hard-to-pin-down
friend.
Mail A Friend
Turn
Over a New Sheet
It's one
of the great ironies of motherhood: You put a child down for
a nap -- and all he wants to do is play and play. Huh? After
all, if someone offered to take you into a cozy,
darkened room, tuck you in and command you to do nothing but
happily snooze away, you certainly wouldn't resist.
So
today, we're commanding you to nap in true princess style.
Nothing's more conducive to terrific sleep than smooth,
cool, brand-new sheets. Take advantage of the end-of-summer
sales and buy yourself some luxurious new bedclothes. We
think the cotton linens available at Garnet Hill are ideal.
Pure Danish cotton with unusual and interesting patterns,
they make up a beautiful bed. Also, Ralph Lauren's line of
bed linens wash to a rich, silky smoothness and can be found
at most major department stores. For ultimate softness, wash
and dry new sheets a few times before using them. Your
Royal Highness, the land of nod awaits!
Know a
mom who needs her sleep? Forward this page
Mail A Friend
Vive la France!
Your
travel coffee mug has become your most important accessory
of late -- the adult equivalent of a sippy cup. You need
your caffeine, and you're always in a rush; ergo, the coffee
travels with you.
If you
can't remember the last time you drank coffee out of a real
china cup, let alone the last time you drank coffee while it
was still hot, you'll appreciate today's indulgence. Let's
go to France.
Too
late to get a babysitter to cover a wee trip across the
pond? Settle for a French-style moment then! Dress up a
little nicer than usual and take yourself off to a nearby
cafe. If there's one thing French women do know about --
aside from how to be thin, supposedly -- it's that dressing
up makes you feel a whole lot better!
Sit
quietly, read a book, catch up on journal entries (or, if
you're like us, finally start making some journal
entries) and watch the world go by as you enjoy a hot,
creamy cafe au lait. We can't promise rude waiters or smelly
cheese, but we can assure you that this is how coffee should
be enjoyed. Coffee out of a travel mug may seem like a
necessity, but once you've remembered what a real, hot cup
of coffee enjoyed slowly tastes like, you'll know what the
real necessity is. And keep in mind, this is an indulgence
that bears repeating.
Know a
mom who needs to savor her cuppa joe? Forward this page
Mail A Friend
Book It: Long Shelf Life
Here's something we're sure you haven't
done in a while: Browse slowly through a
bookstore. Really slowly. With no one
tugging at your coattails, desperate for
story hour.Today's indulgence: Take
yourself to the library or a bookstore,
and just meander. Catch up with the
best-sellers. Enjoy some quiet time in a
very quiet place. Indulge one of your
passions -- cooking, architecture, art
or whatever -- by finding yourself some
elegant coffee-table books and a place
to sit and luxuriating over the
pictures. Or find a new novel and get a
head start on it before you get home.
Interruption-free reading is bliss.
And from our soapbox we offer this
suggestion: No reading parenting or
child-care books while you're out.
You're a great parent, and the thing
that's going to keep you a
sane, happy parent is a little quiet
time for yourself -- not more advice on
how to be a better caregiver.
Know a mom who's a former bookworm?
Forward this page.
Mail A Friend
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